Shawn Walsh is subject of book

Steve Klein, sports editor at the Lansing State Journal (Mich.) from 1985-’95, is working on a book about University of Maine hockey coach Shawn Walsh.

He has spent countless hours with the 17-year Bear coach, who is currently battling kidney cancer.

Klein was in the Bangor area for five days of interviews last week.

“It is going to be a narrative, similar in style to the Lance Armstrong book [‘Not About the Bike],” explained Klein, who left the Lansing State Journal to become the sports editor for USA Today’s on-line service. “Shawn and I have done a lot of taping. His memory is astounding.”

Walsh, who was an assistant coach at Bowling Green and Michigan State before receiving the Maine job in 1984, has guided Maine to 11 NCAA Tournament appearances, seven Frozen Fours and two national championships.

His 399-214-44 record ranks him 11th in wins among active coaches and 19th among all coaches.

He has also survived an NCAA investigation and a one-year suspension for his role in NCAA violations.

His 1998-99 team won the national championship with 16 scholarships as a result of NCAA sanctions, two fewer than allowed under NCAA guidelines.

“There won’t be any BS. The stories are easily verifiable. Shawn has been very open,” said Klein, who first met him when he was an assistant at Michigan State. “It is easy to appreciate what he has done here.”

Klein said the book will be all-encompassing.

It won’t just be about Walsh’s on-going fight with cancer; his secrets to coaching success or his personal life. However, those will be among several topics covered.

“Shawn is a great motivator who has led an interesting life. There are lessons he has learned in life that all of us can learn from,” said Klein.

“The book will have transcending value,” added Klein, who currently works for the Advance Interactive Media Group.

Walsh was diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma a year ago and has had his left kidney and left lung removed.

He underwent immunotherapy treatments in California and a stem cell transplant in May at the National Institute of Health in Bethesda, Md.

Both had debilitating side effects.

However, Walsh has remained upbeat throughout and was discharged from NIH on Sunday after a 15-day stay caused by the side effects. He hopes to return to his Veazie home permanently in a couple of weeks.

“I admire him for the strength he’s been showing,” said Klein.

Klein and Walsh have talked to a couple of literary agents and Klein said “once they’ve found a publisher, everything will be accelerated. We’re at the proposal stage right now. I’ll be drawing up a proposal this month. Our literary agents have been encouraging.”